The ages of 3-6 is the most crucial developmental stage for children. It is where they start learning important life skills such as communication and problem-solving as well as developing psycho-social and motor skills. It is extremely critical that parents closely monitor their child’s development during this stage. Any noticeable delays in the child’s development may have a long-term and negative impact on his learning and social interactions skills. This delay can be mitigated if the child is brought to the paediatrician for an early assessment and identification of issues, and enrolled in an early intervention program in order to help them meet their developmental milestones.
What is early intervention?
Early intervention services are programs that help young children build key foundational developmental skills in the areas of physical, cognitive, communication, social and emotion development. It applies to children as early as 0 to 6 years old. In an interview with Jan Matthews, a psychologist at Parenting Research Centre in Australia, she states that “early intervention starts with early identification of what issues are concerned with the child, and it’s putting in place programs and services that would meet the needs of the child in a timely way but also taking into account what the family requires to support this child” (Matthews, 2016). Early intervention is not only about helping the child but also about guiding the parents or the family on the best ways to support them.
What are the benefits of early intervention?
Although some parents believe that their children will eventually overcome the difficulties that they face during the developmental stage, there are still children that eventually do not meet their developmental milestones and went on to be diagnosed with developmental delays or some form of learning disorder. As such, it is still important not to leave it to chance and take actions as early as possible. As cliché as it may sound, the earlier it is, the better when it comes to early intervention. To further understand the importance of early intervention, below are some of the benefits of early intervention to the child and the family:
- Children with learning difficulties often exhibit a lack of communication skills. They struggle to express their feelings and to communicate with others effectively, which affects their relationship with their family and their peers. Early intervention focuses on teaching the child how to mitigate their lack of communication skills. “Communication development sets the stage for literacy and influences later success in school” (First Word Project, Florida State University, 2015)
- Early intervention also helps to improve the child’s behaviour. Children with learning difficulties often portray negative behaviours as result of their condition and their frustration in not being able to express themselves fluently. They often throw tantrums and act violently in a bid to show their frustration or because they are unable to control their impulses. Early intervention provides support for children on how they can manage their emotions through different activities.
- Apart from benefiting the child, early intervention also helps parents learn different methods and techniques on how they could support their child at home. A child’s development is a collaborative effort between the professionals and parents.
The saying ‘an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’ also applies in early intervention. It is better to keep an eye on your child’s development and to identify potential development issues so intervention can be done as early as possible in order to give your child a better platform to perform as they grow. If you observe any learning or social delays in your child’s development, do not hesitate to consult professionals. There is nothing wrong in being overly-cautious when it comes to your child’s development. Start any form of intervention as early as possible and you will see the benefits of it in later years.
Bibliography
First Word Project, Florida State University. (2015). The Importance of Early Intervention. Retrieved from firstwordproject.com: https://firstwordsproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Early_Intervention_02.pdf
Matthews, J. (2016, October 13). All About Early Intervention for Disability. (raisingchildren.net.au, Interviewer)